Self-lubricating axle.



J. J. CARNEY.

SELF LUBRICATING AXLE.- APPLICATION FILED JULY26, 191m RENEWED SEPT. 24.1917.

L@6%,@96m Patented May 7, 1918.

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JAMES J. CARNEY, OF BETHEL, VERMONT.

snLr-LUBnIon'rinc extn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, I918.

Application filed July 26, 1915,Seria1 No; 42,044. Renewed September 24,1917. Serial No. 193,015.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, JAMES J. CARN'EY, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Bethel, in. the State ofVermont and United States of America, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Self-Lubricating Axles, of which the fol lowingis a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in self lubricating axles forvehicles, and the objectof the invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive device, by means of which a quantity of lubricant may beinjected into and retained in the axle for the lubrication of the wheelduring a considerable period of time.

The device consists essentially of an axle having a slot extending fromthe shoulder of the bearing portion and deepened adjacent the thre ad,communicating with a bore formed under the threads.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the axle.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is apar'tial sectional view showing the device equipped with avalve to prevent escape of the lubricant.

Fig. 5 shows a slight modification of the device. I

Referring more particularly to the Cl12tW- ings, 11 designates thebearing portion of an axle which may be straight or tapered, as shown,and which terminates at one end in a shoulder 12 and at the opposite endin a reduced threaded portion 13, for the reception of a wheel retainingnut (not shown). The axle is provided on its upper surface with a groove14- which extends from the shoulder to the threaded portion 13, andwhich is deepened, as shown at 15, adjacent the threaded portion. A bore16 is formed in the threaded portion of the axle parallel with the axisthereof, and at such depth that it will pass clear of the threads andcommunicate with the deepened portion 15 of the groove or channel. Asmall tube 17 is inserted in this bore.

, In order to prevent escape of lubricant through the tube 17, the innerend of the same may be provided with a ball or plug valve 18, which isnormally pressed against the end of the tube to maintain this end closedby a suitable spring 19 seated against a shoulder 20 of the bore, orotherwise, as desired.

In Fig. 5, a slight modification has been shown in which the channel isextended completely through the threaded portion, and is of such depththat the tube 17 will be clear of the threads of a nut when the same isapplied. In this form, it is preferable to have the tube 17 of suchlength that it will pass beyond the nut into the deepened portion of thechannel. It will be obvious that a valve such as shown in Fig. may beapplied to the device shown in Fig. 5, and that a number of minorchanges may be made in the invention, as necessitated by the par ticularform of axle to which it is applied, without departing from the spiritof the in vention.

When a wheel is placed on the axle, it closes the top of the groove 1-The tube 17 is unobstructed by a nut retaining the wheel, and the nozzleof a grease gun may therefore be introduced into the tube to injectsutlicient lubricant to completely fill the groove 14L from end to end.In the case of a thin lubricant which would rapidly work out, a valvesuch as shown in Fig. 4 will be found advisable, but where a lubricantof heavy consistency is employed, this will not always be necessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a device ofthe character described, an axle having the bearing portion thereofterminating at one end in a shoulder and at the opposite end in areduced threaded portion, a channel formed in said axle extending fromthe shoulder to the threaded portion thereof and deepened adjacent thethreaded portion, and a tube extending through the threaded portionclear of the threads and communicating with the deepened portion of thechannel.

2. In a device of the character described, an axle having the bearingportion thereof terminating at one end in a shoulder and at the oppositeend in a threaded portion, a ch annel formed throughout the length ofthe bearing portion of said axle and deepened adjacent the threadedportion, a bore formed through the threaded portion of the axle clear ofthe threads and communicating with the deepened portion of the channel,and a tube inserted in said bore.

3. In a device of the character described, threads thereof, and a valvearranged to hold an axle having the bearing portion thereof lubricantagainst reverse flow in the tube. 1.0

terminating at one end in a shoulder and at In Witness whereof, I havehereunto set the opposite end in a threaded portion, a my hand, inpresence of two Witnesses. channel formed in said axle extending from iJAMES J. CARNEY. the shoulder clear to the end bf the threadedWitnesses:

portion, a tube inserted in said channel trav- GUY WVILsoN,

ersing the threaded portion clear of the PAUL F. WILSON.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, v Wasliington,D.G.

